Business Research Methods 7BUS2002-0901-2023 1 Lecture 1 Introduction to the Module DR KETTY GRISHIKASHVILI BSc, PGD, PGCert, MSc, Mres, PhD, FHEA E-mail: k.grishikashvili@herts.ac.uk. Office Hours: Every Monday 2-3pm Room M221 The Module Teaching/Support Team Name Contact Details Dr Ketty Grishikashvili (Module leader) k.grishikashvili@herts.ac.uk. Dr Ann Holness (Module Tutor) a.j.holness@herts.ac.uk. Farjana Mostofa (Dr to be) (Module Tutor) f.Mostafa@herts.ac.uk. Kate Cooper (Dr to be) (Module Tutor) k.cooper@herts.ac.uk Dammon Ghanizadeh (Dr to be) (Module Tutor) d.ghanizadeh2@herts.ac.uk Dr Maria D L Lazzarin m.d.lazzarin@herts.ac.uk Dr Reza Naji a.naji-rayeni-pour@herts.ac.uk. Siegrid Beck (AEB Seminar Tutor) s.beck@herts.ac.uk Ngoc Phan (Teaching Assistant ) n.h.phan@herts.ac.uk Today – Lecture 1 Overview Introduction to the Module 7BUS2002-0901-2022 7BUS2002-09-01-2023 Aim of the Module & Learning Outcomes Module Structure Module Content Module Assessments Key Dates and Arrangements Q&A Business Research Methods (BRM) 7BUS2002- Aim of the Module Aim is to: Business Research Methods (BRM) 7BUS2002-09012023 15 Credits • to develop a postgraduate level knowledge and skills of independent research • to develop a research project proposal which will be further developed into a final postgraduate research project. BRM forms a solid foundation of your final MSc IB Major Research Project, which is a 60-credit module (1/3 of your degree) Learning Outcomes Understand relevant methodological concepts and challenges associated with business research Identify relevant literature, providing critical analysis of the theories, concepts, paradigms, principles and views Propose a complex research activity in a systematic ethical and creative manner Analyse ethical aspects of research design and formulate an appropriate ethical research strategy to plan the gathering and analysis of appropriate data The Module Teaching/Delivery Approach Teaching Session Learning typically includes Code on Timetable Where to find it Preparation (Pre-class self-study; not timetabled) Self-study to be completed in advance of the on-campus sessions using materials provided to you on the module site under Units. Not scheduled on your On the module site timetable under Units Lecture (Timetabled on-campus workshop) These timetabled on campus sessions aim to introduce theoretical concepts associated with the BRM processes together with associated research and current practices used within international businesses. On campus sessions show as 'Lec A’ with a room number (e. g. N001; AUDITORIUM) Rooms will show on your timetable Tutorial/Seminar These timetabled on campus activities will reinforce concepts and provide guidance and formative feedback on assessments. You will form small learning sets to undertake set group exercises (e. g. examine and analyse relevant case studies) On campus sessions show as ‘Tut B’ with a room number (e. g. N001; R123, N001, M045, V221) Rooms will show on your timetable Further self-study and activities that enable and encourage students to exceed the module learning, such as enhanced reading, guest lecturers, research seminars Not scheduled on your On the module site timetable under Units (Timetabled on-campus tutorial) Extension/Stretch (Post-class self-study; not timetabled) Attendance and Engagement BRM Module Site Key Activities Each unit will involve some of these key activities: 1) Review- each unit will have an overview document that will guide you through the unit. 2) Read- each unit has core reading you will need to undertake. Some readings are available electronically. Some essential readings might be provided as a PDF document. 3) Check- each unit might have a specific document or an additional material that you need to check. 4) Prepare for the Seminar- you will find tasks that you need to prepare for the seminar. Unit 1- Introduction to Module Business Research Methods Concept of the Module 1. Unit 1-LR1-Introduction to the Module 2. Unit 2- LR2-The Nature of Business and Management Research & Research Process 3. Unit 3-LR3-Identifying Potential Research Topic, Aims and Objectives 4. Unit 4- LR4- Critically Reviewing the Literature 5. Unit 5- LR5-Research Design & Research Philosophy in Business & Management 6. Unit 6-LR6- Research Access, Ethics and Sampling 7. Unit 7-LR7-Collecting Data for Primary Research 8. Unit 8-LR8-Collecting Data for Secondary Research 9. Unit 9-LR9- An Introduction to Data Analysis 10. Unit 10- Completing the Research Proposal 11. Unit 11- Workshop: 12. Unit 12- Workshop: Module Core Text Books and Readings ONLY LIMITED COPIES AVAILABLE Please download relevant chapters to read later. Please use other textbooks for relevant topics, as indicated in the reading list. Saunders, M. and Lewis, P. (2017) Doing Research in Business and Management: An Essential Guide to Planning Your Project 2nd edn. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Ltd. Saunders, M, Lewis, P and Thornhill, A. (2019) Research Methods For Business Students. Edition 8, Pearson Education, Limited. How to Download elevant Chapters What is Research? Research is defined as a careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or a problem using different scientific methods (Bryman and Bell, 2011). The problem could come from: “real-life” problems found in the workplace, the home, the community, or outside in the external environment a gap in the academic literature it could be some new topics have been neglected in the literature and there are limited research on it This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY The Research Process The research process usually involves several stages: 1. Formulating and clarifying the research topic 2. Literature review (identifying research gap(s) and formulating research question (s)) 3. Research design (formulating research plan and methodology) 4. Data collection 5. Data analyses 6. Writing up (presenting your findings) The Research Proposal The research proposal is a structured outline of a research project. Making a research proposal demands to: Think through what you want to do and why. Helps you to guide the project through all of its stages A research project needs to be: Coherent-All the different components of the project need to be in relationship with each other. Feasible-The project should be possible to achieve. Business Research Methods (BRM) 7BUS2002 Assessments Three deliverables (assessments): 1. Assessment 1: Weekly Learning Set Conversation with an Individual Reflection (5 weeks) 20% 2. Assessment 2: In Class Quiz 10% 3. Assessment 3: An Individual Report (Research Proposal 70% Assignment 1 (stage 1) During the First Five Weeks’ seminar sessions you must prepare for and participate in a Learning Conversation (an approximately 30 minutes) based on concepts you have learned on Canvas preparation and in your face-to-face sessions. You must select your own Learning Set (group) within your tutorial groups. As a Learning Set you will be exploring key issues associated with the contemporary business and management research practices with the module tutors and with your peers Each student is responsible for finding one article (newspaper, trade magazine, YouTube video etc.) each week about the company/business that is the focus of their research. The article should be around your research topic ( sustainability, Innovation , leadership….) Assignment 1 (stage 2) After each week’s Learning Conversation, each member of Learning Set should reflect on their Group’s Learning Conversation and produce reflective piece of work no more than 250 words and no less than 150. You have to individually consider: - What was the week’s topic and what you learned from the Learning Conversation? - How experience from this conversation can help you to build your own research proposal? An individual reflective piece of work must be uploaded to this portal by 23.59 on every Friday: Week 1: 13/10/23 Week 2: 20/10/23 Week 3: 27/10/23 Week 4: 03/11/23 Week 5: 10/11/23 Marking scheme 20% e.g. Weighting Attendance, engagement and participation Team spirit and co-operation, building trust and rapport with the ability to positively challenge Ability to discuss and analyse the topic with critical awareness 100% Ability to giving and receiving feedback and feedforward Ability to developing effective research aim, objectives and research question(s) Ability to meet deadline for reflective piece of work Individual reflection Total 100 Assignment 2: Quiz: Ethics in Business Research Quiz Must be completed during the Week 8’s Seminar (your tutor will monitor the process) Before taking the quiz (week 7) read the Chapter 6 (Negotiating access and research ethics) of the main textbook, Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2019) The completion of the quiz must be done in 30 minutes Once you have opened the quiz, you must be ready to complete it in full and not stop or go back to it later. Marking: The quiz is automatically stored in canvas and the total score (10%) will be automatically recorded in canvas as well. Assignment 3:Research Proposal This assignment is important in preparation for your final MSc IB Major Research Project which is a 60-credit module (weighting 1/3 of your degree). 15th of December 2023 23.59 It requires you to develop a detailed research proposal, which will identify and elaborate: a contemporary business issue (for one company which could be a well-established brand ) to be addressed; research aim, objectives, including proposed research question(s); an appropriate research methods and scope of the project; up to date and relevant literature; expected outcomes of your project; a detailed project plan. UK Academic Expectations Subject Asian African Chinese UK UK Required Listening to the tutor and making notes, not interacting Respecting your tutor. Speak when asked. Normally enter into Respect the tutor discussion. and speak only when asked. X Interacting and participating with the tutor. Challenge accepted x Descriptive writing X Critical analytical writing Plagiarism allowed x X Taken very seriously as academic misconduct Copying from books, websites etc. allowed X Not allowed and is academic misconduct. Working together and sharing Materials X Yes, but cannot share or pass on any of your own materials Harvard Business Referencing (HBR) To recap HBR visit: http://www.studynet1.herts.ac.uk/ptl/common/asu.nsf/Teaching+Documents? Openview&count=9999&restricttocategory=Harvard+Referencing OR Search “Harvard Referencing” in CASE website OR Visit CASE drop-in session http://www.studynet2.herts.ac.uk/ptl/common/asu.nsf/Homepage?readform Consider Google Scholar or Scopus Google Scholar StudyNet Online Library Scopus – Academic Journal Search Engine https://www-scopus-com.ezproxy.herts.ac.uk/search/form.uri?display=basic https://goo.gl/ZgMxgJ OR Type “Scopus” into StudyNet Online Library – it is the first “database recommendation” item which appears Also, view Scopus tutorial at CASE: http://www.studynet2.herts.ac.uk/ptl/common/LIS.nsf/lis/Scopus1 Questions to remember Research Topic Rational/Backgro und Research Aim, Objectives & question(s) Literature Review Research Design WHAT research would you like to conduct? WHY the research is worth doing? WHAT do you want to achieve out of the research? WHAT has already been done on the research topic area? HOW would you conduct the research? (data collection & data analysis – ethics & access) Today – Lecture 1 Summary Introduction to the Module 7BUS2002-0901-2022 Aim of the Module & Learning Outcomes Module Structure Module Content Module Assessments Key Dates and Arrangements Q&A References Bryman, B. and Bell, E. (2011) Business Research Methods, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sanders, M, Thronhil, A, and Lewis, P. (2019). Research Methods for Business Students. Edition. Sage.
